Top 9 Vinyl Banner Printing Design Tips

When it comes to designing and printing a vinyl banner it is important to focus on simplicity and contrast.

After all, you usually only have a few seconds to catch someone’s attention and to get them to read your message. If the text font is too small, the banner message will blend into the background. If there’s too much text it simply won’t get read and you’ve lost your opportunity.

Here are nine custom vinyl banner design tips and considerations to think about before you print your next banner.

Tip #1 – Pick A Font Size That Is Big Enough

Think about the size and scale of your vinyl banner. How high and how far will your banner be posted? From what distance will you want people to be able to read the banner from? A general rule of thumb is 10 to 100 – 10 inches of letter height for every 100 feet of visibility.

And don’t forget that the faster the passing traffic is the larger the banner and font size needs to be. That is, your text font will need to be much bigger on a banner targeting freeway traffic compared to a banner targeting walkers in a park. Our Phoenix printing experts can help you pick the right size font to use on your banner to ensure that it is readable by your target audience.

Tip #2 – Choose Your Words Wisely

With vinyl banners you have just a couple seconds to get your message across, if that. If the text can’t be read and understood in just a second or two you’ve lost the person’s attention. A general rule for using text on a banner is 3 by 5. In other words, there should 15 words or less on the banner:

Three lines of text with five words per line

Or five lines of text with three words per line

Tip #3 – Maximize Impact With Contrasting Colors

In order to make your vinyl banner clear and distinguishable in just a few seconds, pick color combinations that have maximum impact and are easy on the eyes, such as Black on White, or White on Blue.

Tip #4 – Think About The Banner’s New Backdrop

Knowing the background color of where your banner will be posted – such as a forest background, a brick wall, or a temporary fence – will help you pick out contrasting colors and graphics for your banner that will stand out. A thick white or black border around the edge of the banner may be needed to differentiate it from a busy backdrop. Remember, vinyl banner printing that stands out is much more likely to get noticed than one that blends in.

Tip #5 – Consider Double Sided/Double Exposure

Will people see the backside of your banner as well? If so, you may want to ask for double sided vinyl banner printing so that your message is visible to traffic moving in both directions.

Tip #6 – Measure The Size Of The Mounting Location

Be sure to measure the area where you plan to hang the banner to make sure there is enough space, especially if you are ordering custom vinyl banner printing services for a special event like a community race or a reunion. There is nothing worse than going to hang up your banner and realizing that it is way too big, or on the other hand, looks way too small in such a large space.

Tip #7 – Size Up The Competition

If you are hanging your vinyl banner in an area with a lot of other signage around it you will need to figure out how to make your banner stand out above the rest. For example, you may need to make your banner bigger or your color more vibrant. It may be worth it to visit the location beforehand to see what the dominant colors are of the other signage so that you can choose the best contrasting colors.

Tip #8 – Utilize Wind Slits For Outside Use If Necessary

If you are planning to use your custom vinyl banner outside it is important to get a weave or mesh banner that will allow the wind to flow through the banner. Strong winds can cause hanging issues and may even damage the banner. Mesh vinyl banner material is commonly used for large signs and for banners on fencing around special events.

Tip #9 – Options for Hanging Your Vinyl Banner

Consider the finishing options for your vinyl banner such as pole pockets and sewn-in ropes. This will make it easier to hang or mount your new banner properly. Reinforced grommets around the edge of the banner offer a flexible way to hang up a banner and can be utilized in multiple locations.

Custom Vinyl Banner Printers in Arizona

Our vinyl banner printing experts at PRI Graphics in Phoenix Arizona can help you with other unique banner design and printing considerations including:

Vinyl Banner Weight – Do you need a standard 13oz banner or does your application call for a heavier duty 23oz weight?

Banner Lifespan – What is the best printing option for the duration you plan to use the banner? Is the banner for a single weekend event or do you plan to use it for an annual event or all season long?

Banner Grommets – Have you allowed room for the little reinforced holes (grommets) around the edge of your banner so that they don’t interfere with your banner text or custom design?

PRI Graphics offers large mesh and vinyl banner printing services throughout the Greater Phoenix area. We can custom design and print banners and canvas posters for all manner of applications including:

About the Author

The print professionals at PRI Graphics in Phoenix and Mesa Arizona regularly write about digital printing, large format printing, CAD printing, and other custom printing services. Contact us or check back often for new ideas on how our Phoenix printing company can help show off your business!